Sasha's New Journal!

[kwanpistonsfan]

Here it is, folks!

www.sashacohen.com/journal.shtml (http://www.sashacohen.com/journal.shtml)

Good to hear she'll be announcing her new program soon. And the tip about teak wood.

[GoldenMichelle]

This journal entry seems a lot more "mature" than many of her past entries. It was refreshing.

[JaneC]

Glad to hear that she's keeping Dark Eyes.

Jane

[BatonKwan]

Sasha has always had very nice and exquisite short programs. Her "Malaguena" was stunning, and I enjoyed "Dark Eyes" as well. I'm glad we'll see it again this season. But no lp announcement yet? After the latest round hints, does anyone want to wager a guess to her long program? She says she will be telling a story...

[attyfan]

Sasha was skating to "Dark Eyes" when she had to drop out of Nats due to back injury; she uses the music again, and has to miss the GP due to back injury; and she's keeping it?! I just hope that third time will be the charm.

[JunJohn21]

I bet it will be to R&J!

[edenlover]

Why is it that "other board" keeps accusing us of dishing Sasha. I hear a lot of great comments about her on this forum. It truly seems that most of us appreciate and admire her talent. I wish the battle between the boards would stop.
We are all Americans! We just like one skater more than another, which our country gives us the freedom to do.

[chipso1]

My guess is also R&J, since she hinted about "telling a story."

That would be a great choice of music for her! :) It suits her so well! The only bummer is is that we heard it so much last season.:(

[redvispa]

That would be a great choice of music for her! :) It suits her so well! The only bummer is is that we heard it so much last season.:(

I think she is using the movie version of the music ... and not the 'other' r&J music

[BatonKwan]

"Romeo and Juliet" was my first thought, too. Sasha is such a little drama queen and would make an excellent Juliet! They are both delicate yet passionate. In her latest journal entry, she makes a point of describing her bedroom- very femine- so I wouldn't be surprised if she chose a very femine character. I wouldn't rule out another "Carmen" at this point either.

[olympic]

I think Sasha will be skating to something Operatic. Just a hunch. But I see the argument for R & J

She talks about a doing a difficult program with elements en synch to the crescendos of the music. Knowing Sasha's history in the LP, that kinda scares me: She tends to overthink and has at least one fall, so if she also has to hit an element in time to the music, I wonder if that will be good for her........

Anyway, I'll be rooting for her and MK during the season to do their best:)

[Krista]

R & J or Don Quixote maybe

There are all kinds of things she could skate to and tell a story though.

I'd say the most likely is R & J

Good Journal entry, although I don't think the link is working to register. It says to click on which age you are, older than 13 or younger than 13, but there isn't a link *shrug*

[lavender]

Sasha's first performance of R & J gave me chills. This is when I really thought TT was to Sasha as Lori was to Michelle in the early days. Too bad that they couldn't continue to work on programs together.

R & J would be great for Sasha.

[Lucy]

I still think it is R&J. I do not think it was a coincidence that she skated an exhibition skate a few weeks back to R&J music with a new cut to the music and completely different choreography. People on her site were saying that she probably "forgot" the original choreography or brought the wrong cut of music and just improvised the program. That sounds pretty silly to me (almost like a cover up).

If Sasha's journals sound young, I think she does it on purpose. The majority of the posters on her site are young.

[kwanpistonsfan]

Are we now all calling her "Sash?" Nice. Anyway, for some reason I don't think it's R&J. I just know that if I were in Sasha's position, I wouldn't want to be using the same music for my Olympic program that I had been using for exhibitions for the past three years. Or skate an early version of my competitive program at a show months before the Olympic season begins. But who knows? Sasha intrigues me.

[Michibanana]

I love Dark Eyes, and I'm so glad she's keeping it for another season. IMO, it was one of her most unique programs, and I thought it was one of the best programs of the season. It's a very strong program for the Olympic season, too.

[aaronts]

oh god. better than the last. at least it seems like something good this way comes.

a peanut here.........a crumb there.......maybe she's smarter than we think~

[epoibim]

A certain someone I know predicted Madame Butterfly back in March...

LOL, as long as it's not Schez, I'm good! Could you imagine?!??!

I'm just fuming because she bought teak furniture!! OUR RAINFORESTS, DUDE!!!!!!!! Who needs habitats? Ah well, I'm glad she has nice furniture.:(

[Krista]

epoibim, i was thinking "as long as it isn't Salome or Schez" so we were on the same wavelength lol

[Pati]

must be me...that so did not sound like her usual writing style.

[skatingfan5]

must be me...that so did not sound like her usual writing style. I thought that it sounded pretty much like Sasha -- though perhaps in a less "ad lib" style than her usual journal entries. Maybe part of that was due to some of the content it contained (call for registration for Olympic season updates from her site, etc.). Or maybe she has been reading all the editorial critiques posted around the net about her journalistic efforts and decided to take the time to craft something that might be perceived a bit differently. Or maybe her website editor has changed or just used a heavier hand. I guess there's still lots of potential for discussion. :\

[mixedmadness]

I think she should use Romeo and Juliette as well. I always liked that exhibition program and I think that it made her emote in a way that none of her other programs ever did. There is something about that music that can move almost any skater who skates to it. I think it would have been perfect for her short program but Dark Eyes is fine. Hopefully she will do Romeo and Juliette for the long. This has nothing to do with Sasha but I think Mk could do a nice program to Romeo and Juliette too. Would be cool to have the battle of the Juliette's

[MKGrace]

I'm glad Sasha is keeping Dark Eyes too - I loved the program and haven't seen enough of it. It's a nice display of her personality and it really builds to an exciting finish.

What R&J are you talking about - Tchaiv., Prokofiev? I've never seen the exhibition so I'm not sure. Either one would be great for Sasha. I'm also thinking it could be Madame Butterfly which I can easily see her skating to. I'm pretty tired of these music selections (with the exception of Prokofiev) but I do think they'll make for a lovely free skate.

I like the journal entry - she sounds like her usual self to me.

[skatingfan5]

What R&J are you talking about - Tchaiv., Prokofiev? I've never seen the exhibition so I'm not sure. Either one would be great for Sasha. Sasha's "Rome & Juliet" exhibition program music was from the Nino Rota theme for the Zeffirelli R&J movie. Susanna Poykio used music from this movie for her LP last season, though much of it used different music cuts than Sasha's exhibition program. BTW, others were speculating/guessing that Sasha might use "Madame Butterfly." She used this for an exhibition program back in 2000.

[Shiprock]

ITA: with you on the writing style. It does have a more mature quality to it, but still informative. Can't wait for the new skating season to see all the new music selections and choreography of all skaters.

[MKGrace]

Yes- this journal entry is more focused than usual. Of course it still has the obligatory shopping mention. :lol :p

Thanks skatingfan- you really know your music. :) I've never heard of the movie or music, so I'll have to wait and see.

[magicpixie]

I really liked Sasha's Dark Eyes, it's nice that she's keeping it.

R+J? I hope it's not her LP. I feel like I've been watching her skate to that music forever. I can see her doing a very nice DQ. We'll see, I can't wait to find out her music.

[Emerald2000]

I, too, hope that she doesn't pick R&J for her long program, just because it seems risky to rehash a program for the olympic season. However, Romeo and Juliet is my absolute FAVORITE program of her's. She did it so well.

[skatingfan5]

The Zeffrelli Romeo & Juliet movie (http://imdb.com/title/tt0063518/) came out nearly 40 years ago -- in 1968. You probably have heard the music -- at least the cut that Sasha skated to. It is sometimes called "A Time for Us". Here's a link to a clip from amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000AGWLP/qid=1124231608/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-9781114-4621527?v=glance&s=music&n=507846) -- listen to the "Love Theme" from R&J and it should give you the main melody.

[fkriesler]

This will be the 4th time Cohen uses Dark Eyes as a competitive program, for the previous three, each time less was inspiring than the one before.

[taf]

I was just thinking the same thing about Dark Eyes. She has used it more than Viktor Petrenko used his LP from 92.

[taf]

This part puzzles me:

"My bedroom is going to have a faded cream color. Everything will be in white or peachy pastel and look really feminine. The bedding is rose colored with lots of roses."

So what part of it will be faded cream? I'm konfused.

[kwanluv]

Roses r pretty, and shopping for furnishings r fun! :D

[skatingfan5]

"My bedroom is going to have a faded cream color. Everything will be in white or peachy pastel and look really feminine. The bedding is rose colored with lots of roses."

So what part of it will be faded cream? I'm konfused. I assumed that she was talking about the walls -- when people speak about the "color of a room" that's what they usually are referring to, i.e. "my kitchen is yellow", "the guest room is a pale moss green color".

[iloveskating]

I can't quite envision faded cream, white, peachy pastel, and rose (rose=pink? red? roses come in lots of colors including peach & white). Maybe faded cream is the "name" of the paint color selected. Doesn't sound too inspiring to me..."faded".

Too bad we can't see pictures of it completed, it would prob make more sense to me then. I'm sure it will be beautiful. I doubt she'll want to post pics of her bedroom on the internet, though. :lol

PS I think it's a smart move for her to debut her LP at SV next weekend. It will give her a chance to try it out before the 1st comp. I've gone to SV for Boitano the last 3 years but I won't be going this year. It's a good thing (I think) I don't live close enough to go every weekend! It would break the bank fast, but boy would it be fun.

[skatingfan5]

I can't quite envision faded cream, white, peachy pastel, and rose (rose=pink? red? roses come in lots of colors including peach & white). Maybe faded cream is the "name" of the paint color selected. Doesn't sound too inspiring to me..."faded". Her description does bring an image to my mind, but it probably is nothing like the room's coloring. :lol Anyway, I thought the "faded" likely meant that it was a muted, softened color, not a bright or vibrant one (I have a collection of at least 4 different white paints -- from decorating projects that never got beyond the planning -- and they are quite different, so I would imagine that the cream colors would range just as much if not more). The "rose color" I'm not so sure about, but what I envisioned was a warm, mid-range tone -- i.e. what is sometimes actually called "rose" but not too pink -- something that would blend rather than clash with the "peachy pastels". As I said, what I have envisioned is likely not much like the reality -- and I have learned that even looking at the same fabric swatches and paint chips with someone else, we usually don't "see" the colors the same way. They might insist that something is red, when I think it's really a dark orange or vice versa. It's really very subjective.

[Nitts]

The R&J music is perfect for Sasha, but I'm tired of her doing it so often. I know Michelle has done EOE many times too, but maybe the difference (for me) is that her career has been much longer and it doesn't seem as if she did it every year so close together. But it is the perfect music for Sasha and if that's what she is using, I am sure it will be a great program.
I'm not surprised she is re-using her SP. It's actually a smart move for her.

[taf]

Nitts-why do you and others say doing Dark Eyes would be a smart move for Sasha? I'm not being a smart-aleck, I really want to know. Why do other skaters get criticized for using a program over & over, but it's ok for Sasha? This will be the 3rd or 4th time (I can't remember) that Sasha has used it so don't you think she will get slammed by a lot of people for using a recycled program? I know that I'm not too impressed. She quite often uses her programs for a long time & that doesn't show variety or originality. And quite frankly, I get tired of them. Not just Sasha, but any skater who uses his/her programs for too long.

[skatingfan5]

I'm not Nitts, but the reasons why I think that keeping her "Dark Eyes" SP for another season is "smart" for Sasha are:

1. It's a program that garnered very good marks at Worlds, even with some mistakes in it, so it clearly scores well with the judges and under CoP

2. Sasha's best performance of "Malaguena" came in 2004 (Nationals and Worlds), the second season of using the program. It seemed that being familiar with it helped her in that she didn't have to think about what she was doing but could just skate the program. If her "Dark Eyes" program is still reasonably fresh for her (she only used it twice last year), then why not use it?

3. There is no penalty for re-using a program, as many skaters in the past have won with programs they have used for more than one season (and sometimes more than two). I know that Sasha used "Dark Eyes" as the music for a long program a few years back, but I really don't remember that program at all, since she didn't compete at Nationals or Worlds that season. For six seasons, repeating the SP for two years with a new LP every year has been Sasha's pattern. It's evidently something that she feels comfortable with.

My own bias: Since I don't have cable, I haven't seen enough of anyone's programs from last year (since the GP's and Worlds were on ESPN) for repeats to bother me. I guess if a skater used music I really didn't like, then I might feel differently if they chose to repeat it (Plushenko's 2003 LP comes to mind), but that's just me. I don't know if those who criticize skaters for repeating programs give Sasha a "pass" -- if they do, they aren't being very consistent. Some skaters I wish would have kept programs another year, as I liked them better than their choices for the next season. But whatever the skater feels is best, it's their choice and decision. As I said, I see little enough skating the past two seasons to have a chance to grow tired of any programs.

[Eeyora]

I think it will be R+J as well. It was the only one of her programs that really touched me. Plus if she did change the choreography maybe it means she gearing it towards COP's. However I think Madame Butterfly is a good possibility as is Sleeping BeautyI loved Dark Eyes though. This combination should work well.

[epoibim]

Look on the bright side, we actually get to *sing* for a moment during Sasha's short. The "WHOOOOPAH!" is oodles of fun for everyone...

Not many shorts give you that.;)

[fkriesler]

taf
his will be the 3rd or 4th time (I can't remember) that Sasha has used it

05-06 season is the 4th time Cohen uses DE. First in 98 when she was a novice, then 00 - 01, and 04-05 season. Evertime she uses it as a competitive program, and each time it is less inspiring than the time before

[olympic]

Well, I'm one skating fan who never saw Sasha skate to Dark Eyes, or at least I don't remember the music, and I'm looking forward to seeing it. She could've skated to it 10 seasons for all I care! I like to watch a good program.

[MKGrace]

Evertime she uses it as a competitive program, and each time it is less inspiring than the time beforeI seriously doubt that, considering how much her artistry and presentation have improved over the years. I love the program and the music and I've only seen her skate it twice- Nationals and Worlds.

[Nitts]

Hi Taf. Sorry it took so long for a response. I haven't been online much.
I think Sasha is making a smart move because she has difficulties skating clean, and re-using the SP will help her chances of having a clean SP. It took her a long time to skate a clean Magulena (sp?), and when she did, it was awesome.
Re-using the SP is a smart move for her.

[fkriesler]

mkgrace

I seriously doubt that, considering how much her artistry and presentation have improved over the years. I love the program and the music and I've only seen her skate it twice- Nationals and Worlds

Actually Cohen's artistry was best when she first compete as a senior skating from the heart. Since then her presentation turned colder and colder. I have seen her skate a few times too, the temptation of using her as a bathroom break is getting stronger each time

[MKGrace]

fkriesler - Let's agree to disagree. :) I love Sasha's skating, you can't stand it and take bathroom breaks during it. I understand that because there a few skaters (who will remain nameless ;) ) who I use as bathroom or snack breaks.

[gatzbee]

i think R&J was the only program that was i really entranced by sasha's skating. the music is so powerful and she just has this ballerina quality and fine line and pointed toes that just go so well with it. i saw it in COI 03 and got goosebumps. but then again i don't think the program would have had such a great impact w/o the great choreo. of TT. before that, didn't sasha and nicks choreo. their programs together? TT just brought out the magic in sasha w/ R&J. i wonder if she re-did R&J w/ some diff. cuts if i'll be able to erase the former R&J out of my mind...

i could totally picture mk skating to R&J too. i think she'd have me all weepy by the end of it :lol . i think she could emote like nobody's business w/ that piece of music ;)

[missmarysgarden]

I have to agree with you, fkreisler. Sasha has lost the delicacy and refinement she had in earlier years. I was shocked at Campbell's last year by how sort of "hard" she looked, and distracted. I felt that "new mode" continued through the year. There were some things I really liked in Sasha's programs as the year progressed, but I think that overall, her "charm" was diminished. I never have liked her jump technique, but she sure can spin.

[berthesghost]

"i think R&J was the only program that was i really entranced by sasha's skating. the music is so powerful and she just has this ballerina quality and fine line and pointed toes that just go so well with it. "

I think that this is very telling. Sasha seems good at giving off this stereotype of "music box ballerina" that I suspect hasn't very much to do with actual ballet technique at all. It's very interesting that all of the famous balletes that Sasha has performed to didn't move you as much as when she skated to a movie soundtrack.

"Sasha has lost the delicacy and refinement she had in earlier years."

I'm not so sure about this, but what I do see is that Sasha's overall expression has moved from "aren't I just the cutest thing you've ever seen" to "Oh God, just stay upright, whatever you do, just stay on your feet".

[Krista]

Yeah I'd say thats what has changed about Sasha's skating as well. Her technique is great on spins, etc, but she's lost the child like(which is expected) fearlessness that she had when she first started. She seems much more aware of the stakes. On the other hand, Im glad she has matured, because I enjoy watching her skate much more than I used too when there were all the incidents of remarks and bumps in practice, etc. I hope she does well this year.

[aldreen]

I wouldn't mind Sasha (or Irina or Carolina or any of the other top skaters) skating to "uninspired" music or programs at the Olympics. Actually, I wouldn't mind it at all if all of them don't show up at all. I just want a guaranteed win for Michelle at the Olys, he he. (After the Olympics, they can all do their thing at Worlds for all I care... LOL)

[missmarysgarden]

Now there's an honest post!!!

[iloveskating]

I don't think her LP will be to R&J b/c she said it will a completely new program.

[gatzbee]

I think that this is very telling. Sasha seems good at giving off this stereotype of "music box ballerina" that I suspect hasn't very much to do with actual ballet technique at all. It's very interesting that all of the famous balletes that Sasha has performed to didn't move you as much as when she skated to a movie soundtrack.

hmm never thought about that last part of ur comment BGOI.. interesting. i liked TT swan lake but thought the music cuts were just sort of tepid at times. i think what really helped was the moving music cuts she performed to in R&J. and i also think TT's choreo for her was just perfect for that program. nutcracker was just bland from the beginning for me.

[Kathy Sullivan]

I haven't read any practice reports on Sasha so far this season. Anyone have any info? Usually there are some reports from a couple of skaters at her rink - but so far it is incredibly quiet on that front. Seems a little strange.

[gratefulmkfan]

I have a feeling that Shasha is going to do Shez - yikes! Mihclle described it as being a story teller, before she announced the music in '02. "Telling a story/ being a story teller. Could be that potatoes potahtoes thing." Hmmmm....

[gratefulmkfan]

Boy, I was soooooooo wrong :rollin I should edit my previous post, but that wouldn't be fair play :) .

The only thing about R&J is that for all the times I've seen Sasha perform it, I've seen many beautiful MITF, but never more than one or two clean jumps. It is beautiful music though, and I wish her good luck with it, just not better than Michelle's luck :) . (I'm being honest, if not diplomatic here.)

[EigthAv]

If a skater isn't your "cup of tea", so to speak,it usually means they bore you more than they entertain you. So,to fans of Sasha I'm sure most of her programmes are fun to watch. To non Sasha fans,like me,they usually aren't such a big deal. That could be any skater,because it is rare that any one skater appeals to everyone.The Tobels,Weisss and Neledinas are rare.